Arrived in Leon on April 26. Taking a short rest period before moving on.
Deborah posted April 27: Beautiful women we met in Leon at lunch in their 80's who had walked the Camino with their husbands. So gracious and loving
Selection of Deborah's posts 4/27/2017
A selection of Kristine's posts
Gaudi
A few of Kristine's FB photos (posted 4/27/2017)
Posted on FB by Deborah 4/28/2017: Legend has it that Mary appeared to a shepard and told him to take a rock and cast it and build a church at that site. The rock then grew into a boulder so the bishop agreed. It is now a basilica. After they built the church Mary appeared to a prisoner chained in a box in Africa knowing he wanted to visit the church. People found him chained in the box at the church. Chains and box remain in the sacristy of the church.
The statues are the 12 desciples.
Snow, freezing wind - Foncebadon - April 30
Heidi reports: Snow on the Camino. 20 knots of wind and snow into our faces as we trudged our 27 km
We're so glad to get here safely and to a fireplace. I don't think I'll see my tank top anytime soon! True pilgrim day. Yeesh!
April 30
From Deborah: Miserable day. What the heck was I thinking. 27km of freezing rain, sleet, ice and snow with headwinds of 20 knots. This is NOT fun.
May 2, 2017
Mount Irago: Cruz de ferro
Heidi's FB post on May 2, 2917: Yesterday was a picture perfect day. Started walking in the snow that had fallen yesterday, got to place my Idaho rock on Cruzferro (iron cross) , beautiful hilly scenery into Molineseca, a gorgeous town where I'd love to live! When we arrived we met this incredible singer that sang "Imagine" to us that made me cry from its beauty. A truly Magical Day.
Heidi
Note from Editor:
Many pilgrims bring a rock from home to place at the foot of Cruz de Ferro, the Cross on Mount Irago (altitude 1504 m) This is said to symbolize the leaving behind of your worries/problems and take on the renewed pilgrimage with a new purpose of life.
From Deborah's May 5, 2017 posting I was able to deterimine this was Ponferrada, so we know they made it this far.
A noble asked a beautiful young maiden to marry him. She said no so he set out to prove he was the best in the land. He set up camp at end of the bridge and jousted and beat 300 other knights.
May 6, 2017
Deborah's FB post: Arrived in Sarria. Start last 114km tomorrow. Think it's going to be an emotional week. Think it's already started
Posted on May 7. Amongst the Calla Lillies
Photos from Sarria
Photo taken from albergue of Sarria
Building in Sarria - Heidi
Posted by Deb May 7
Photo posted by Heidi - May 7
Queen Heidi and King Alfonso
Heidi's post May 7: Can't believe we are coming down the home stretch. We are in the last week and will be on the last 100km today. It's gone so fast and it's tough to think we'll be there so soon. Loving it still. Emotional, beautiful and amazing.
The final week
With Niklas. Posted by Heidi May 7
With Hector and Alex Posted by Deborah May 8
Deborah posts from 5/9
Lunch today 5-9
The majority of the walk today.
Heidi and Deborah with Di from Perth
From Barbara's Text 5/10/2017
Octopus Salad - Yum
Special story involving the book Heidi received earlier in the trek
On my first day I met an amazing American group of people that took me one like a only child.
In the group was Heidi Marino who I'm spoke a lot with on the way... about what the Camino spirit was and what people actually expect getting out of this. She pulled me to the side and shared a completely fantastic project. She shows me a little book, in that book was written about different personas on the Camino about meetings between nationalities, cultures and genders. The books is what I would say as a describing part of the Camino spirit.
Heidi wanted to give me the book and then I should pass it on to a new person... I was the first Danish person to write in the book about my meeting with Heidi and the others.
The book is about sharing the story of the Camino and the people who is walking it. You had to ask you self did they change something in you? Did the person make you see things in a different way? Did they help you?
I passed the book on to a special person for me on the Camino Johanna Norrdahl and I don't know who she passed it on to.
In the end the book will be returned to Germany where its owners originally is from.
I'm so proved of being a part of this book.
At a random cafe, all of us five book keepers randomly meets. If that's is not something that only happens on the Camino I don't know what is. We made an effort and made it moment to never faint.
Buen Camino de Familia of the world.
May 11, 2017: El último día (The Final Day)
The destination in Santiego
A feat (or should we say 10 feet) worthy of fireworks.
Tlhe Compostella May 11, 2017
Standing in line for Compostella
Deborah's Compostella
Added photos on 5/15
Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Espana, May 12 after 38 days on El Camino Frances 814 km from San Jean Pie de Port, France amazingly meeting back up with Jeremy from California who was the very first person we met when we stepped out of our taxi in SJ from Pamplona to start off the journey. Such is the Way of El Camino!!!